Alexander Ullom's debut feature plays it lean, giving us plenty of time to digest the various guesses by the friends as to what has become of them and how they might best act to end it or cope. With four clearly distinct characters who act consistently but are never types as an allegory would more typically have them. They are, however, all still young with various levels of ambition, newly hatched from the education mill that has packed them with prescribed values like school lunches.
I was reminded of tales like YellowBrickRoad or The Blair Witch Project for the depiction of lost people whose youth and energy can lead them to both decisive action or self-binding confusion. And I was also reminded of the film of Ionesco's Rhinoceros, with its challenge to the normal world from the wilderness of alternatives.
The young cast make a lot out of talky but still spare action and dialogue and manage to hold the screen without falling into tiresome repetition. This despite the single forward motion and the constant setting of forest on either side of a road that they must accept might be eternal.
There is little more to say of this film without spoiling it but I will register my admiration of such a minimalist approach that yet compels questions of its outcome. I really didn't not guess the ending but wasn't surprised to know it.
Some who see it might dispute its status as horror but I think that along with those other examples I mentioned, the lack of control in a confusing environment that threatens life and limb (a kind of gore-free Romero zombie movie) provides a constant, slow burning dread. Add a fine electronic score, in there, too. I'd definitely call it horror. And good.
